Dredging a second channel into Garden Island and major road upgrades could be priorities in a Henderson precinct master plan to be drafted by the state government in 2019, while Defence Minister Christopher Pyne today announced a new $200 million vessel will be built at the yards.
Speaking at the Indo-Pacific Defence Conference this morning, Premier Mark McGowan announced the Henderson review as part of a new Defence and Defence Industries Strategic Plan.
The master plan will be drafted by the end of 2019, Mr McGowan said.
It will be a collaboration with the federal government and offer a blueprint for future investment.
A source familiar with the government’s thinking told Business News one key investment would be to dredge a new channel to enter the HMAS Stirling base.
That would ensure that naval vessels could enter and exit the area if the existing channel was blocked.
Further spending required would be on the common user infrastructure, road upgrades and improved power infrastructure.
Business News revealed in November 2016 that the state government would pitch for federal support to build a second, $300 million floating dock at Henderson as part of the common user infrastructure.
A second part of the state government’s defence plan would be a new Defence Science Centre, which will be supported by $1 million of grants annually, split between the state and federal governments.
South Metropolitan TAFE will also establish a defence office to coordinate a workforce development plan for the local industry.
Other moves will be developing business cases for submarine and frigate maintenance, grants for companies to attend industry events, and cash for defence-related research.
Also today, Mr Pyne announced Australia’s new hydrographic research vessel would be built in the Henderson shipyards, although it was not yet clear which contractor would undertake the work.
The investment would be worth at least $200 million, he said.
Western Australian Senator Linda Reynolds said the announcements showed the ability for bipartisan collaboration to deliver results for the state.
She said she had worked with state based Defence Industry Minister Paul Papalia on taking the case for defence spending in WA to Canberra.
Senator Reynolds said the state had won the project not because of financial problems, but because it was the best location for shipbuilding.
“You won’t find a happier senator in this country today,” she said.
